Weavers of the Hover Collection

Emma Pearch (Karuk), birth name Sárukhinva was born at Pearch Creek (later named after John Pearch, her husband) or Cheenitch Creek in 1838, and raised in Orleans (Johnson, 2o15). In the 1850’s, she married John Pearch, an Englishman who came to Orleans to mine for gold (Johnson, 2015). Together they had six children; Dolly, Elsie, Julia, Eli, Katie and one child who died as an infant. 
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Emma started the basketry collection that would eventually become known as the Hover Collection. “It was natural for Emma to collect baskets. Most of the people who made the baskets lived close by. People got together. Everyone knew everyone else on the River. Baskets were admired and exchanged or offered as gifts” -Lee Hover (Emma’s Great-Grandson) (Johnson, 2015)

Johnson, R., Marks, C. K., & Ervin, C. (2015). The Hover Collection. The Clarke Historical Museum.

Elsie Pearch Young (1868-1969) married Pedro L. Young, an Englishman born in Spain that was sent to Orleans by a British mining company to manage gold mining in Orleans (Johnson, 2015). Pedro became very influential in Orleans due to major mining and construction projects in the area that he managed (Johnson, 2015). He also appreciated the basketry of the area and together with Elsie they collected and bartered for the most exquisite baskets (Fields, 1985). The Youngs inherited the majority of the family’s basketry and regalia collection and continued to add more to it (Fields, 1985). Elsie managed the family home which also doubled as The Firs hotel, a popular stop for visiting miners (Johnson, 2015). Elsie decorated The Firs with basketry, it covered mantles, tables and even the walls. Elsie spoke fluent Karuk and was known for her ability to handle dugout canoes (Fields, 1985).

Johnson, R., Marks, C. K., & Ervin, C. (2015). The Hover Collection. The Clarke Historical Museum.
Fields, Virginia. (1985) The Hover Collection of Karuk Baskets. The Clarke Memorial Museum

Julia Pearch Starritt (1874-1958), birth name Hánuun, married Robert Starritt from Nova Scotia (Johnson, 2015). Robert operated the only saw mill on the Klamath River and was involved with building the first bridge in the area over the Klamath River (Fields, 1985). Julia spoke fluent Karuk and taught her nine children about the importance of their Indigenous heritage (Johnson, 2015). Julia and several other Karuk women worked with William Bright, author of Karok Language, 1957 (Johnson, 2015). Together they translated and explained Karuk stories, fables, and mathematical systems, which Bright recorded (Johnson, 2015).

​ Johnson, R., Marks, C. K., & Ervin, C. (2015). The Hover Collection. The Clarke Historical Museum.
Fields, Virginia. (1985) The Hover Collection of Karuk Baskets. The Clarke Memorial Museum

Elsie Starritt Hover (1902-1973) was the daughter of Julia and Robert Starritt. She developed a keen interest in the basketry and regalia that the family had and would soak up as much information about it as possible (Johnson, 2015). Grace Nicholson, a prominent photographer and art dealer, spent a significant amount of time working in the Orleans area. Grace was impressed with Elsie’s interest and ability to learn Karuk culture (Johnson, 2015). Grace encouraged Elsie to go to college and even paid for her education (Johnson, 2015). Elsie graduated from Humboldt State University in 1925 and she taught in local elementary schools for 32 years, utilizing her family’s basketry collection to teach young people about Indigenous history (Johnson, 2015). The Youngs and the Starritts left the family’s basketry and regalia collection in Elsie’s care (Johnson, 2015). Her son Lee Hover, would eventually donate the collection to the Clarke Historical Museum, where it remains today.
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​​ Johnson, R., Marks, C. K., & Ervin, C. (2015). The Hover Collection. The Clarke Historical Museum.

Lee Hover (1924-2011) was the son of Elsie and Lee Hover. He grew up in Eureka, but spent summers in Orleans with his grandparents Julia and Robert Starritt. This time gave him a deep connection to his Karuk heritage which he was incredibly proud of. He attended 3rd through 8th grade at a small school in Denny taught by his mother Elsie. When his mother Elsie died in 1972 he was quite concerned about what to do with the collection that was now his. The collection remained in storage for two years, it was then loaned to Cal Poly Humboldt for 10 years in honor of Elsie who was an alumna. Private collectors and the Smithsonian Institution expressed interest in purchasing the collection, Lee recalls “Helen (Lee’s wife) and I really wanted to see the collection remain in Humboldt County. The people who made these baskets are from here. They are the original people. If you take the baskets away from this area, I just don't think they will be truly appreciated”

The Clarke Museum was suggested as a place to protect and display the collection. The museum was unable to meet the appraised price. The Hovers, because of their commitment to preserving this important link in Humboldt county’s history, donated one-third of the value of the collection to the Museum. The Museum, a historic landmark, a Class A building (i.e. non-combustible) and other security measures in place was chosen to be the home of the collections. The Clarke Museum is honored to be a part of this legacy, to care for and share this exquisite collection. Lee stated, “The more we get into this, the better our family feels about it. People have actually stopped me on the street to say how much they appreciate it that the collection is at the museum. This collection is a living memorial to the Karuk basketmakers. We feel confident now that it will be preserved for everyone to enjoy.”

Information provided by:
​ Johnson, R., Marks, C. K., & Ervin, C. (2015). The Hover Collection. The Clarke Historical Museum.

I-tha-evs-shur Nettie Ruben
Nettie Ruben, birth name I-tha-evs-shur, was born in approximately 1875 in the Somes Bar  Orleans area. Her mother, Imogene “Snappy” Truman, birth name Us-na-pe-ta, was a medicine woman and basket weaver, whom she learned her skills from. Nettie was never taken to boarding schools and never learned to read or write in English, she “could speak English but wouldn’t”. She practiced herbal medicine that her mother taught her and retained Karuk language, oral culture, and stories which were eventually recorded by linguist William Bright. Information about Nettie’s life prior to 1908 is extremely limited and largely unknown. Grace Nicholson came to the area and began documenting Indigenous life after 1908, however biographical information is still rare. Nettie married and divorced a few different times, but never had any children of her own. 

Nettie is described as being very petite, less than five feet tall with small hands that perhaps aided her in weaving such fine baskets. Unlike other weavers, Nettie preferred to work alone. She had many friends that were themselves master weavers such as Elizabeth Hickox and her daughter Louisa, but chose to work alone. Elsie and Pedro Young must have admired Nettie’s baskets because there are more of her baskets in the collection than from any other weaver.

Nettie was an innovative weaver. She added straps or loops to her baskets which would allow buyers to hang them on their walls, something other weavers eventually adopted. With straps, baskets could be used as purses and became very popular with women.  Purses, fancy baskets, napkin rings and bottles were often the baskets with her most unusual designs. 

Nettie would wake up everyday at 4:00AM and would weave all day. She would sell her baskets from her home, she did not sell her baskets through Brizard’s Store or Lord’s General Stores in Orleans as many other weavers did. Nettie still made a considerable amount of money selling baskets. Nonie, Nettie’s niece, recalls “she had woven all her life and made good money. She hid her money and no one ever found it.” According to Nettie’s wishes, when buried “she had certain regalia, five dollar gold pieces over her eyes, mink hair ties and an Indian cap. She was going to see riches in the Afterlife.” Grant Hillman who was an honorary pallbearer and helped bury her also spoke of gold coins in her casket and that she wore a ceremonial cap and was buried with baskets.”

Nettie also crocheted, made clothes , arrows and paper flowers. She made everything by hand. After her death in 1957 and before her funeral, her home was robbed and all her baskets, crochet and sewing was taken. Sadly, the collection has never resurfaced.

Information provided by:
Johnson, et al. Nettie Ruben.